Capítulo 17: Protection Out Of Fear
The heavy air in the arena rippled with the remnants of Simo's last attack, a shadowy bear-like manifestation thrashing wildly. Leonidas danced around its furious claws, his eyes locked onto the creature's every movement. From the sidelines, Akio watched with narrowed eyes, piecing together the mystery of Simo's transformation.
"Valen," Akio spoke quietly, glancing over, "was what happened to Simo... three different psyche awakenings?"
Valen shook his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "No. What you're seeing isn't multiple awakenings. It's the consequence of Simo's... facade. He's locked parts of himself behind chains of his own making, and those restraints have distorted his beliefs, warping him into something he's not."
Akio felt a chill as Valen continued.
"Simo thought suppressing parts of himself would give him control. But all it's done is fracture him, make him believe things he'd otherwise reject. Now, as the chains loosen, what you're seeing is a twisted reflection of his true fears and obsessions."
As if to punctuate Valen's words, Simo's body floated several feet above the ground, his eyes gleaming with an unnatural light. A dark, unhinged laugh escaped his lips, slicing through the tension. He spread his arms wide, looking down at Leonidas with a mad grin.
"All beings fear death," he sneered, his voice laced with an otherworldly resonance. "And yet they all forget—fear itself is just... a shadow. I am death. I am the one they dread!"
Valen crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Simo with a mixture of fascination and revulsion. "Now that he's unlocked his 'true' self," Valen muttered, "fear isn't just a tool for Simo. It's a compulsion, a twisted truth he's come to embody."
Leonidas clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing as he took in the sinister transformation. The shadowy bear lunged forward, but with a burst of energy, he struck it down, watching it dissolve into drifting tendrils of darkness. But Simo's grin only grew wider, his fingers curling as the space around him began to warp and crackle, distorting under his influence.
A massive tear opened behind him, a gaping wound in reality itself. The edges shimmered, pulsing with a life force that felt disturbingly sentient. Akio's heart skipped a beat as recognition struck him.
"A… true tear…" he whispered, fists clenching in a blend of awe and dread.
From the depths of the tear, darkness began to coalesce, forming a towering apparition, an incarnation of raw, primal terror. Its form shifted like a mirage, always on the edge of solidifying yet never stable. Out from the darkness stretched skeletal arms, fingers of bone and sinew grasping and releasing, while a hollow, eyeless face loomed above. Its mouth was an endless void, swallowing even the faintest glimmers of light.
Simo threw his head back, laughing maniacally. "This… this is true fear! Tremble, shiver, cower!" His voice rose to a fever pitch. "I am death itself! And everything… everyone… fears me!"
Valen's eyes narrowed. "A true tear has power beyond what we typically see. When the information within the thought is so overwhelming, it shatters the metaphysical constraints of reality, creating an idealized version of itself, a pure, untainted form. This… is Simo's true obsession, a crystallized fear given life."
Akio absorbed Valen's words, understanding now just how dangerous Simo's power had become. A true tear didn't bend to the will of any psyche. It was a concept made manifest, something that any person could recognize and fear—no matter who they were.
The monstrous figure took a step forward, and its mere presence sent waves of despair rippling through the air. Leonidas planted his feet firmly, steeling himself for the creature's assault. He raised his sword, the blade glowing with a fierce light that seemed to push back the oppressive darkness.
"Come on!" he roared, voice steady even as the weight of fear pressed upon him.
The creature lunged, but Leonidas met it head-on, dodging its massive claws and striking at its center. Each hit made the creature recoil, but its form merely twisted, reforming each time he made contact. It was as if he was fighting pure despair itself—a battle that couldn't be won through strength alone.
And as he fought, something dark and familiar stirred within him—a whisper of doubt, winding through his mind like poison.
You'll fail them again, just like before, the voice taunted, its words wrapping around his heart like iron chains. Just like then, you'll be powerless.
Leonidas staggered, his grip on his sword faltering. A memory surfaced—a moment of failure, of fear that had gripped him before and left him questioning his own strength. His heart thundered in his chest, the familiar chill of despair tightening around him. The shadow fed on his weakness, drawing closer as if sensing his faltering resolve.
Akio's voice cut through the intensity. "Leonidas! You need to stop feeding into his fear!"
Valen gave Akio a nod of approval. "Exactly. Fear itself is his power source. By acknowledging it, you strengthen it."
Leonidas closed his eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath. I know who I am, he reminded himself, his heartbeat slowing as he forced himself to focus. With every exhale, the weight of doubt lifted, replaced by an unyielding resolve. This was his fight, and he refused to let the past haunt him now.
He opened his eyes, calm and steady, his gaze no longer clouded by fear. Stepping forward, his strikes were now deliberate, precise, each movement flowing with purpose rather than desperation. He was no longer trying to destroy the creature—he was unraveling it, dismantling the very foundation of its power.
The creature's form flickered, its movements stuttering as if unsure of itself. Simo's face twisted in anger, sensing the shift. "No! You cannot ignore me! I am death itself!"
Leonidas's resolve held firm, his strikes unwavering. With a final, decisive blow, he shattered the shadowy visage, the entity dissolving into tendrils of darkness that dissipated into the air.
Simo's floating form began to lower, the manic glint in his eyes dimming. He looked down at Leonidas with a scowl, anger mixing with disbelief.
"It's over, Simo," Leonidas said firmly, standing tall despite his exhaustion.
With a roar of defiance, Simo rushed toward him, fists glowing with dark energy. But Leonidas sidestepped, catching Simo off-guard, and with a swift movement, struck him in the back of the neck. Simo's body went limp, crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
The arena fell silent, the oppressive atmosphere lifting as the remnants of Simo's power faded. Akio released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, the weight of the encounter slowly dissipating.
Valen nodded approvingly, his gaze flickering from Simo's still form to Leonidas. "Well done. You faced his obsession and denied its hold."
A slow smile crossed Leonidas's face as he looked down at his fallen opponent. "He's not dead. Just… pacified."
Valen's gaze grew thoughtful as he looked at Simo, still lying motionless. "The true tear may have been too much for him to handle. But if he awakens again, he may be a different kind of challenge."
The tournament grounds erupted in cheers as Leonidas was declared the victor of the round. Akio exchanged a glance with Valen, his mind racing. The power of a true tear… the implications were staggering. And as he looked down at Simo's unconscious form, he couldn't help but wonder if he, too, might one day have to confront the true essence of his fears.
With the first victory secured, Akio knew that the Tournament of the Shattered Veil was only just beginning—and the trials that lay ahead would be even more perilous
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Khondokar_Sindeed
Khondokar_Sindeed Fear of death may loom large, but true courage shines brightest when it drives one to protect those they love, even at the cost of their own life.
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